The Meaning of Genesis 39:9 Explained

Genesis 39:9

KJV: There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

YLT: none is greater in this house than I, and he hath not withheld from me anything, except thee, because thou art his wife; and how shall I do this great evil? -- then have I sinned against God.'

Darby: There is none greater in this house than I; neither has he withheld anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife; and how should I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

ASV: he is not greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[There is] none greater  in this house  than I; neither  hath he kept back  any thing  from me but thee, because  thou  [art] his wife:  how then can I do  this great  wickedness,  and sin  against God? 

What does Genesis 39:9 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 39:1-18 - Joseph In Potiphar's House
Ungodly families and employers owe more than they realize to the presence in their homes and businesses of those who love God; for God comes with His servants. See Genesis 39:2; Genesis 39:21; Genesis 39:23, and Acts 7:9. But those who would enjoy that accompanying Presence must resist and overcome the appeals of the flesh. Days of outward prosperity are those in which we are most keenly tempted. The most venomous serpents coil in the damp heat of tropical forests. When temptation and opportunity meet, our case is hard indeed. At such times only God's grace can hold us back. As temptation presents itself again and again, it gives us opportunities of continued growth in strength and grace. Joseph had probably wrought out his noble answer in his own secret heart, and had lived by it, weeks before he flashed it forth. In the critical hour the mouth blurts out what the heart has been meditating. They who can rule themselves will be presently trusted to rule others. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 39

1  Joseph is bought by Potiphar, and preferred in the family
7  He resists temptation by Potiphar's Wife
13  He is falsely accused by her
20  He is cast into prison
21  God is with him there, and he is advanced by the keeper of prison

What do the individual words in Genesis 39:9 mean?

[There is] no one greater in house this than I nor has he kept back from me anything except if you because you [are] his wife Then how can I do wickedness great this and sin against God
אֵינֶ֨נּוּ גָד֜וֹל בַּבַּ֣יִת הַזֶּה֮ מִמֶּנִּי֒ וְלֹֽא־ חָשַׂ֤ךְ מִמֶּ֙נִּי֙ מְא֔וּמָה כִּ֥י אִם־ אוֹתָ֖ךְ בַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתְּ־ אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וְאֵ֨יךְ אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֜ה הָרָעָ֤ה הַגְּדֹלָה֙ הַזֹּ֔את וְחָטָ֖אתִי ؟ לֵֽאלֹהִֽים

אֵינֶ֨נּוּ  [There  is]  no  one 
Parse: Adverb, third person masculine singular
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
גָד֜וֹל  greater 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.
בַּבַּ֣יִת  in  house 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
הַזֶּה֮  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
מִמֶּנִּי֒  than  I 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.
וְלֹֽא־  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
חָשַׂ֤ךְ  has  he  kept  back 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָשַׂךְ  
Sense: to withhold, restrain, hold back, keep in check, refrain.
מִמֶּ֙נִּי֙  from  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.
מְא֔וּמָה  anything 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מְאוּמָה  
Sense: anything.
כִּ֥י  except 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
בַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר  because 
Parse: Preposition-b, Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
אַתְּ־  you  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, second person feminine singular
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ  his  wife 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.
וְאֵ֨יךְ  Then  how 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: אֵיךְ 
Sense: how? interj.
אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֜ה  can  I  do 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
הָרָעָ֤ה  wickedness 
Parse: Article, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
הַגְּדֹלָה֙  great 
Parse: Article, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.
הַזֹּ֔את  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄאת  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
וְחָטָ֖אתִי  and  sin 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: חָטָא 
Sense: to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness.
؟ לֵֽאלֹהִֽים  against  God 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).